Writing to an Attorney General

Hello, If I am looking for clarification of a firearm law and would like to write to the attorney general of my state about it, how would I go about wording the letter? Do I address him as your honor?

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Wyo_F-A

July 20, 2009, 02:16 AM

No matter how you address him, I would refrain from: "Hey, d***head. I pay your dam salary so read my dam letter and consider my opinion"

Seriously though, when I write gubment officials I usually use Mr/Mrs Title of Office (ie- Mr Attorney General). I do not need a Senator (ie- Boxer) bitching at me because I use Ma'am instead of Senator.

CW-op

July 20, 2009, 11:02 AM

Not sure where you are, but in Mich. it is easier to contact your senator with the question which he will relay to the AG. The AG will reply to the senator who will relay to you. Very hard to contact directly.

TexasRifleman

July 20, 2009, 11:06 AM

CW-op is right. It's pretty common for your representatives to ask the AG for a written opinion on this or that.

Writing directly is fine but you may end up in the circular file.

Mr./Mrs. Attorney General is fine if you decide to write.

AirForceShooter

July 20, 2009, 11:25 AM

The AG is not in the business of issuing legal opinions to individuals.
I'd be amazed if you got a reply.
And if you did it would apply to the entire State.

AFS

DCR

July 20, 2009, 12:10 PM

Go through your locally elected state legislator and couch your question in terms of statewide application. State AG's will not usually opine regarding local ordinances.

scottaschultz

July 20, 2009, 01:10 PM

Does it absolutely have to go to your AG? Have you asked someone at your local PD or Sheriff Dept? After all, these are the folks that are going to arrest you for violating the law, not the AG!

Scott

nalioth

July 20, 2009, 01:32 PM

Have you asked someone at your local PD or Sheriff Dept? Your local po-po is not required to answer your questions at all, and in some cases have lied to the requestor which led to an arrest.

Also has been known to happen are deputies informing callers of their opinions as the law.

Faitmaker

July 20, 2009, 01:54 PM

Senator and AG is not different than the title Doctor. I'd feel pretty stupid saying Mr. Doctor.

Senator Boxer.. Attorney-General whomever would be the correct way to go.

Oh, and your local prosecutor would be the person to ask as THEY are the people taking you to Court.

KyJim

July 20, 2009, 07:45 PM

Most state attorneys general restrict opinions to governmental and elected officials or statutes restrict them. Some will answer questions from citizens if of great public importance. I would suggest having an elected official write. If you write directly or have an elected official do so, try to ask specific questions on an issue of wide interest. If you write directly, the heading would be something like:

Mr. (Ms.) John Doe
Attorney General
etc.

Dear Attorney General Doe:

TexasRifleman

July 20, 2009, 10:28 PM

Does it absolutely have to go to your AG? Have you asked someone at your local PD or Sheriff Dept? After all, these are the folks that are going to arrest you for violating the law, not the AG!

Worst possible source for legal advice.

The prosecutor is the one that will determine whether you face jail or not, you better have the right info regardless of whether you get arrested or not.

If you're 100% in the right and some cop arrests you anyway, enjoy your windfall. If you get bad advice and end up in jail, you lose.

RDak

July 21, 2009, 08:38 AM

Not sure where you are, but in Mich. it is easier to contact your senator with the question which he will relay to the AG. The AG will reply to the senator who will relay to you. Very hard to contact directly.

Yeah, in Michigan the AG wrote me back stating he can't, by statute, directly answer questions from ordinary Joe's like me. Only legislators, prosecutors and law enforcement can ask questions that can be answered IIRC. And those questions have to be asked in an "official" capacity. Doesn't matter if you are an attorney, judge, etc., it has to be asked in an official capacity.

Just have to check your State for the procedure, statute, etc.

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